Personal grooming aid

ABSTRACT

A combination grooming aid capable of performing a number of different grooming functions includes a housing member having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined configuration. A handle member is connected at a first end thereof to and extends from a first end of such housing member for a predetermined distance. A first grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover is disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of such housing member and the handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected and a second grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover is disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of the housing member and such handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/741,952 filed Dec. 5, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to grooming aids and, more particularly, this invention relates to a grooming aid having a brush and comb formed as a single unit and, still more specifically this invention relates to grooming aid which can also include additional items such as a mirror and means for removing lint.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, as is generally well known in the prior art, combs, brushes, mirrors and lint removers have been sold as separate grooming aids for many years.

This requires an individual to carry each of these items either in a man's pocket, or in a woman's purse. Normally, therefore, a man would not carry all of these items due to space constraints of a pocket. As is equally well known, oftentimes a woman wishes to carry only a relatively small handbag which would not easily accommodate all of these items as a separate unit.

Furthermore, and even more importantly, there is an added cost incurred when each of these grooming aids must be purchased separately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a combination grooming aid capable of performing a predetermined number of different grooming functions. Such combination grooming aid comprises a housing member formed from a first predetermined material. Such housing member having each of a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined configuration. There is a handle member, formed from a second predetermined material, connected at a first end thereof to and extending from a first end of such housing member for a predetermined distance. A first grooming aid is selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover which is disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of such housing member and such handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected. Finally, there is a second grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of the housing member and such handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a grooming aid which incorporates a plurality of individual grooming aid into a single unit thereby simplifying a person's grooming.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a grooming aid which is relatively easy to produce.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a grooming aid which can be produced in a number of different configurations, styles, colors and combinations of grooming aids.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a grooming aid which can be produced using a variety of materials.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a grooming aid capable of performing a number of individual functions.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating still another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIG. 1- of the drawings. Illustrated therein is a combination grooming aid, generally designated 10, constructed according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention. Such grooming aid 10 is capable of performing a predetermined number of different grooming functions.

Such combination grooming aid 10 will include a housing member 12 formed from a first predetermined material. Housing member 12 has each of a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length. Such housing member 12, in certain embodiments of the invention, may be generally hollow for at least one of receiving a preselected grooming aid therein and for reducing the weight of the combination grooming aid 10. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention such housing member 12 will be generally hollow for both receiving the preselected grooming aid therein and for reducing the weight of the combination grooming aid 10. The presently preferred predetermined shape of the housing member 12 is substantially rectangular.

The combination grooming aid 10 further includes a handle member 16. Handle member 16 is formed from a second predetermined material and is connected at a first end 18 thereof to and extends from a first end 22 of such housing member 12 for a second predetermined length. In the presently preferred embodiment such first predetermined material of the housing member 12 and the second predetermined material of the handle member 16 are identical. Additionally, it is presently preferred for the housing member 12 and such handle member 16 to be formed integrally as a single piece unit in order to reduce manufacturing cost. Further, such housing member 12 and such handle member 16 will preferably be formed from a predetermined color and include a pair of arcuate portions 44 and 46 formed on opposed sides thereof.

A first grooming aid, generally designated 20, selected from the group consisting of a brush 24, a comb 26, a mirror 28 and a lint remover 32 is disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of such housing member 12 and such handle member 16 depending on which grooming aid 20 is selected. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention such first grooming aid 20 is a brush 24 disposed on an outer surface 34 of such housing member 12. Additionally, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention such combination grooming aid 10 further includes a cover member 34 disposed over such brush 24.

There is a second grooming aid, generally designated 40, selected from the group consisting of the brush 24, the comb 26, the mirror 28 and the lint remover 32 disposed at least partially one of either on or in at least one of such housing member 12 and such handle member 16 depending on which grooming aid 40 is selected.

According to the invention, such handle member 16 will be generally hollow and will include a slot 36 formed one of in a side wall 38 and an end wall 42 of such handle member 16 and the second grooming aid 40 is a comb 26 one of hingedly attached to such handle member 16 and slidably disposed within the handle member 16. In one embodiment, such handle member 16 includes such slot 36 formed in such side wall 38 of the handle member 16 and the comb 26 is hingedly attached by hinge 48 to such handle member 16 and movable into and out of such generally hollow handle member 16. Alternatively, such handle member 16 includes the slot 36 formed in such end wall 42 of the handle member 16 and the comb 26 is slidable into and out of such generally hollow handle member 16.

In is within the scope of the present invention for such combination grooming aid 10 to further include a third grooming aid, generally designated 50, selected from the group consisting of such brush 24, the comb 26, the mirror 28 and such lint remover 32 disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of such housing member 12 and such handle member 16 depending on which grooming aid is selected.

Additionally, it is within the scope of the present invention for such combination grooming aid 10 to further include a fourth grooming aid, generally designated 60, to be selected from the group consisting of the brush 24, the comb 26, the mirror 28 and the lint remover 32 disposed at least partially one of either on and in at least one of such housing member 12 and such handle member 16 depending on which grooming aid is selected.

For example, such third grooming aid 50 could be the mirror 28 attached to the outer surface 38 of such housing member 12 and such fourth grooming aid 60 could be the lint remover 32 attached to one of either an axially opposed second end of such housing member 12 and a predetermined side wall of the housing member 12. Preferably, such lint remover 32 is attached to such axially opposed second end of the housing member 12 and includes a cover 42 for such lint remover 32.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. a combination grooming aid capable of performing a predetermined number of different grooming functions, said combination grooming aid comprising: (a) a housing member formed from a first predetermined material and having each of a first predetermined shape and a first predetermined length; (b) a handle member, formed from a second predetermined material, connected at a first end thereof to and extending from a first end of said housing member for a second predetermined length; (c) a first grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of said housing member and said handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected; and (d) a second grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of said housing member and said handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected.
 2. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said combination further includes a third grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of said housing member and said handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected.
 3. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 2, wherein said combination further includes a fourth grooming aid selected from the group consisting of a brush, a comb, a mirror and a lint remover disposed at least partially one of on and in at least one of said housing member and said handle member depending on which grooming aid is selected.
 4. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material and said second predetermined material are identical.
 5. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 4, wherein said housing member and said handle member are formed integrally as a single piece unit.
 6. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said first grooming aid is a brush disposed on an outer surface of said housing member.
 7. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 6, wherein said combination grooming aid further includes a cover member disposed over said brush.
 8. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said handle member is generally hollow and includes a slot formed one of in a side wall and an end wall of said handle member and second grooming aid is a comb one of hingedly attached to said handle member and slidably disposed within said handle member.
 9. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 8, wherein said handle member includes said slot formed in said side wall of said handle member and comb is hingedly attached to said handle member and movable into and out of said generally hollow handle member.
 10. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 8, wherein said handle member includes said slot formed in said end wall of said handle member and said comb is slidable into and out of said generally hollow handle member.
 11. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said third grooming aid is a mirror attached to an outer surface of said housing member.
 12. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said fourth grooming aid is a lint remover attached to one of an axially opposed second end of said housing member and a predetermined side wall of said housing member.
 13. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said lint remover is attached to an axially opposed second end of said housing member.
 14. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 13, wherein said combination further includes a cover for said lint remover.
 15. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined shape of said housing member is substantially rectangular.
 16. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said handle member includes a pair of arcuate portions formed on opposed sides thereof.
 17. The combination grooming aid, according to claim 1, wherein said housing member and said handle member are formed from a predetermined color. 